About

Cèol on the Clyde is a weekend celebrating traditional fiddle music in the beautiful coastal town of Dunoon, Argyll. Our professional tutors will lead classes across a range of levels. We are offering classes in:

Fiddle Improvers

This class is for you if:
– You’ve been playing for a year or two and can get through some tunes.

– Fluency and confidence are works in progress.
– You know your way around first position and are comfortable in the keys of D, G and A major.
– You’re building confidence playing alongside others.
– You want to build foundations in technique, bowing, tone and rhythm.
What to expect: tunes taught at a relaxed pace with plenty of repetition, attention to core technique, and a supportive atmosphere to grow in confidence.

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Fiddle Lower Intermediate

This class is for you if:

– You can play a range of tunes with reasonable fluency, though may struggle with faster or less familiar passages.

– You can pick up tunes by ear with time and repetition.

– You have a solid grasp of common tune types (reels, jigs, airs) and their rhythms.

– You’re comfortable playing in D, G, A major and E minor.

– You have experience playing in a group setting.

– You’re beginning to think about bowing variation and simple ornamentation.

What to expect: a mix of tune-learning and technique work, with attention to style + rhythm. Tunes taught at a moderate pace.

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Fiddle Upper Intermediate

This class is for you if:

– You can play a range of tunes fluently and confidently, including at session speed.

– You are practiced picking tunes up by ear.

– You’re comfortable with a variety of tune types and time signatures.

– You’re comfortable playing in D, G, A and E minor, and can manage keys like B minor and A minor.

– You have experience playing in group and session settings.

– You’re actively working on ornamentation, bowing patterns, and developing your own style.

– You are exploring double-stopping, harmonies or variations.

What to expect: a faster pace, more stylistically nuanced material, and discussion of phrasing, dynamics and ornamentation. Tutors will assume a good foundation and push you further.

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Fiddle Advanced

This class is for you if:

– You play fluently across a range of tunes, styles, keys and time signatures.

– You can learn tunes quickly by ear and are comfortable adding bowing or grace notes.

– You have a strong, reliable sense of rhythm and feel.

– You’re confident across all common keys, including F and Bb.

– You have some experience with basic position shifting. 

– You’re focused on the finer details: personal style, musicality, nuanced ornamentation, and arrangement

What to expect: a faster pace, in-depth exploration of style and technique, and the assumption that you can dive straight in. Focus will be on refinement rather than foundations.

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Alongside teaching, the weekend features plenty of chances to socialise, including:

Inclusive sessions on Thursday evening, Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

A family concert ceilidh on Saturday night, included in the ticket price.

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About the Organisers

Emily Goan and Holli Scott are fiddle players from Dunoon with a shared passion for creating spaces to learn traditional music. Together, they organise Ceòl on the Clyde, bringing top-class tutors to Cowal for a weekend of music and community. They aim to build an inclusive environment where players of all levels can develop their skills, share tunes and make new connections.

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